Fence



(No Model.)

.P. W. WBIENNBTT.

FENCE.

Patented May 23, 1893'.

Unirrn Srn'rns armar rricn.

PETER W. IVEIENNETT, OF SALINE, MICHIGAN.

FENCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 497,996, dated May 23, 1893.

Application filed October I9, 1892- Serial No. 449,375. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PETER W. WEIENNETT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Saline, in the county of Washtenaw and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fences,of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to an improvement in fences and consists in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and denitely pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of a section of a fence embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a detached perspective view of one of the winding drums on the tightening post. Fig. 3 is a vertical, central seotion thereof. Figlisadetached perspective view of one of the spacing strips. Fig. 5 is a section through the bracing shoe.

A is a series of wires. These wires are arranged horizontally and are secured to the stationary end posts B, of which I have shown but one, the post at the other end being preferably of the same construction. Intermediate these end posts is a series of stationary posts C having suitable staples or hooks D through which the wire is passed. These posts C I arrange a suitable distance apart say thirty or forty feet, and between them I place suitable spacing strips E. These spacing strips I preferably form of sheet metal in narrow bars or strips having tongues F struck out from the metal and extending substantially parallel to the main body of the strip at a distance therefrom equal substantially to the thickness of the wire to be used. The upper tongue F is arranged to extend down wardly while the lower tongue extends upwardly and the intermediate tongues at top and bottom are preferably correspondingly arranged so that upward or downward strain on any one wire will carry the spacing strip with it and prevent the disengagement of the strip from the wires, and at the same time hold the wires at regular distances apart.

The wires A extend from the end posts nearly to the middle of the section of fence to be built, and at the point where the inner ends of the wires meet, I place the tension post F. This tension post preferably consists of a single standard of round metal, preferably tubular and firmly secured to a base G set into the ground. Upon the standard is a s'eries of sleeves H having ratchets I formed at their lower edges oppositely arranged on each alternate sleeve and engaging with pins J which extend from the standard on opposite sides at points corresponding in height to the line of the wires A. These sleeves are provided with squared heads K which havesuitable means of securing the ends of the wires-such for instance as apertures L, extending through the head as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the whole construction forming substantially a series of ratchet nuts having a tubular body or winding drum. Vhen the ends of the wires are thus engaged with these winding drums, any suitable means such as an ordinary wrench may be applied thereto to rotate the same upon the standard, winding the wires upon the drum and tightening up the slack the whole length of the section between the end posts in both directions from the tension post. When the proper tension has been obtained the ratchet engaging with the pins .I will prevent the drum from unwinding, maintaining the wire in its tightened condition. I preferably arrange the securing apertures L on opposite sides of the drum or nut. While I have shown this specific means of securing the wire to the drum it is evident that any other suitable means may be employed. The end posts B must be suitably braced to withstand this strain and the brace which I preferably enlploy brings the strain upon the end posts at the base and comprises a shoe Mhaving a boss N on its upper face, with an inclined pin O extending from the front -face thereof, and with which the lower end of the brace rod P is adapted to engage. This brace rod is preferably tubular and is provided at its upper end with an eye Q adapted to engage around the end post B. The shoe M at its forward end is provided with an aperture in which a hook P at the forward end of the tension rod P2 is adapted to engage, this rod being provided at its other end with an eye Q engaging over the post B at the lower end thereof. The result of v this construction is that the strain upon the brace rod P would be transmitted through the shoe M and rod P2 to the lower end of the post thereby applying the strain at a point where it is practically impossible either to move or to incline the post.

I preferably place a stone R beneath the IOO shoe to prevent its sinking into the ground when it is soft.

By having the tension in the middle of the section and strainingin both directions equally on each drum, at different points from top to bottom, the post cannot tip nor break.

By Winding the Wires from opposite directions, on opposite sides of the drum, al1 tendency to lateral tipping is overcome, and by arranging the sleeves to turn in opposite direction al1 torsional strain is taken off from the post.

It will be seen that no braces whatever are required for my tension post.

What I claim as my invention is- In a wire fence having provision for taking up the slack the combination With the Wires,

of an end post to Which the Wires are attached, an oblique tubular brace, having an eye at its upper end through which the post'passes, a Hat shoe M formed with an aperture in its for-4 ward edge and having aboss N thereon formed with an inclined pin O, over which the lower end of the brace fits, and a horizontal rod engaging the base of the post, and having a hook formed on its opposite end passing through the aperture in the shoe, substantially as de scribed.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

PETER W. WEIENNETT. I/Vitnesses:

JAMES WHITTEMORE, N. L. LINDOP. 

